Beltre, Strausborger Homer as Rangers Beat Rays 5-3

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ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 16: Ryan Strausborger #20 of the Texas Rangers is congratulated by Elvis Andrus #1 after hitting a home run in the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Global Life Park in Arlington on August 16, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images)

Adrian Beltre's 406th career home run was no big deal to the 18-year veteran.

But Ryan Strausborger's first homer, in his seventh major league game, was part of a dream come true.

Beltre's tiebreaking homer in the third inning and Strausborger's insurance run the next spoiled Drew Smyly's return, and the Texas Rangers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 on Sunday afternoon.

"It was awesome," Strausborger said. "It was hard not to run around the bases with a smile on my face, but I couldn't help but smile when they all greeted me at the dugout.

"Young man had a big day," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "This is a young man that is learning how to compete in the big leagues and contributing. In the middle of it. He made a huge impact today."

The Rays' Kevin Kiermaier also was 3 for 4, including a run-scoring double in the second, and stole a base.

Tampa Bay had taken a 1-0 lead in the first inning on James Loney's run-scoring single.

Shin-Soo Choo's double and Beltre's sacrifice fly drove in Texas' two runs in the first.

Kiermaier's double down the left field line and John Jaso's single delivered two second-inning runs to give the Rays a 3-2 lead.

Delino DeShields' bloop single later that inning tied the game 3-3.

FIRSTS

Strausborger also had his first three-hit game — he had just 2 hits in his first 14 at-bats. Napoli, reacquired from Boston on Aug. 7, had a third-inning double, his first hit as a Ranger since a home run Oct. 1, 2012, at Oakland.

TRAINER'S ROOM

LHP Derek Holland (strained shoulder) threw Sunday and could be ready to come off the DL for the first time since April 11.

UP NEXT

LHP Cole Hamels (6-8, 3.86) missed a start Thursday because of a sore left groin but has been cleared for the opener of a three-game set vs. Seattle on Monday. Hamels' most recent start was a 4-3 loss on Aug. 7, when three Mariners hit home runs.